OSB board and plywood are both hugely popular sheeting materials used in modern-day property builds. Whether they’re being used in wall sheathing, flooring or roof sheathing, they both have their own particular suitability and also their own downfalls. So which is the best building material to use in your project in the OSB vs plywood debate?
OSB board
OSB board was introduced in the 70s as an alternative to plywood for load-bearing building applications. It’s made up of layers of cross-oriented strands of timber and bonded with a waterproof resin. Their unique formation allows them to withstand high levels of stress. They are more often than not covered by layers of plaster and paint to achieve a polished look.
All of our Oriented Strand Board OSB boards are quality OSB '3' panels that are precision-engineered structural panels used in load-bearing and challenging conditions. It performs well in humid conditions, making it ideal for house building and construction for both walls and roof sheeting. BBA approved, it now contains zero added formaldehyde and is compliant with building codes BS EN 300.
Plywood
Plywood has been around much longer than the OSB board and was the favoured sheeting material until the cost savings of OSB became apparent. We stock an extensive range of plywood both online and in stores. Our range includes flexible, durable and hardwood plywood that is suitable for a variety of applications. All of our sheets of plywood are long-lasting and water-resistant at varying levels.
Our sheets are made of thin sheets of veneer (plies) that are cross laminated which helps to add extra strength to the material.
Both OSB board and plywood are flexible and durable options for any project. They are ideal for property builds as sheet materials for walls, floors and roofs and are also great for use in smaller projects.
Cost differences
We currently stock two sizes of OSB board at Champion Timber, 2440 x 1220 x 11mm and 2440 x 1220 x 18mm. As a like-for-like alternative, we have general-purpose plywood that is hardwood faced. Pricing is available to view below:
For use as a sheet material
OSB
The OSB boards that we supply at Champion Timber are made up of 3 layers, cross-orientated for maximum strength. They can be used externally if an appropriate preserver is used but are less durable than plywood when wet.
The composition of wood chips is one of the most substantial benefits of the OSB board. The high levels of consistency are a result of the wood chips being bonded together under pressure in the manufacturing process. With OSB board you will never be faced with knots or voids in the boards, something that can occur in plywood.
OSB is a pliable material that can mean squeaky floors if it is used as a subfloor. Our OSB boards are rated for flooring use, meeting the standard for OSB/3 under BS EN 300: 2006 but it is important to leave expansion gaps to avoid squeaks. Another way to avoid squeaks is to glue the OSB boards to the joist, this will prevent any movement.
Plywood
Although plywood is less cost-efficient it is arguably more effective than OSB in damp conditions. Plywood’s even thin layers of timber sheets, sourced from larger diameter trees, mean that when faced with water it expands evening and shrinks back to size quickly and consistently. Whereas the formation of the OSB board means that the edges expand unevenly and take a long time.
Summary
Both of these rectangular shaped wood sheets have their own use cases, but the majority of the time OSB boards are the cheaper option and for this reason, are now favoured in most building applications. However, when it comes to DIY plywood still reigns supreme – most probably due to the natural wood appearance of ply.
Please get in touch today to find out more about all of our sheet materials. Alternatively, pop into one of our ten branches across the South East where our team of experts will be happy to advise you on the best product for your specific build.